Sprinkler head



V. C. CERASI SPRINKLER HEAD Feb. 8, 1955 Filed Nov. 20, 1952 INVENTOR. l/m/czzvr 61 65645! United States Patetrt fi SPRINKEER HEAD VincenbG; .CerashNeWYork; .N'. Ys- Appliation Novembert20,195.2;1SerialNo; 321,586..

12 Clalins: (61$ 299 -130) The present invention relates to sprinklers; spray heads, nozzles and the'like'; herein referred to generically: as sprinkleflheads'i I The sprinkler heads in.accordance"with theinvention are'a'pplicable to producing; spray/or water" stream configurationsof an ornamentalor estheticnature, as, for example'qjindecorativez fountains; The construction. in accordance with the invention makes *itpossible to obtain a w-ide variety of"decorativespray configurations and to vary"the-configurations asdesired.-

The invention is also applicableto sprayheads for utilitarian purposes, as, forexample; sprinkling fields, lawns and' gardens, sprays for. cooling" or' condensing systemsand' sprays for" water purification or aeration systems.-- Hereagain, theform of thespray produced by the sprinkler head in accordance-with the. invention may be varied to suit theparticular purpose for'which thesprinkler is used;

It is'- a n'object.of the present invention to provide a sprinkler head that is composed of 'a' small numberof simplep arts that can be-"economicall'y "manufactured :and easily'assernbled; so. that the overall cost of production of the sprinkler head is low:

A further objecto'f the invention is" to provide: a sprinkler head that' can be easily" adjustedto provide a" widevariety' of different spray" configurations. The discharge rate-atagiven pressure-can" likewise. be varied through -w-ide. limits. A further advantage of the construction= in accordance with the invention" is that-it?- is-- relatively free from cloggingrby particles in the' liquid' and; in the" event' any clogging does occur; the sprinkler head can easily and quickly be' cleaned and cleared. 7

Further objects and advantages of the invention" will he appa'reuflfrom the-following description and claims in accordance with the accompanying drawings: which show, by way=of'-'example; preferred embodimentsiofpthe invention:-

ln thedrawings:

Fig. l is a side elevation of a sprinkler head in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2" isa cross sectiontaken approximately on the line 22 in.-Eigj-f 1...

Fig. 3. is alongitudinal section of the. sprinkler. on.a larger 4 scale.-

Fig. 4 is at view-similarto'Fig-fi but showing, a-.modifiea'tion.

As illustrated imEigsz 1,.2581ld30fth6 drawings, the sprinkler head in accordance with the. inventioncomprises a= centralshaft 1- and'a" plurality of cylindrical cup-shaped members 2, 3, 4 and 5 that are screwed into the shaft 1.

The central shaft 1 is threaded throughout its length and has a plurality of longitudinal flutes or grooves 11 extending from one end of the shaft to the other. The grooves 11 are preferably about as wide as the lands 12 between the grooves and are relatively deep, having, for example, a depth greater than half the radius of the shaft. As shown in Fig. 2, the grooves have approximately parallel sides and rounded bottoms. The number of grooves is preferably small, being, for example, at least three and not more than six. When four grooves are used, as illustrated in the drawings, the shaft has a cross section something like a Maltese cross. The total cross sectional area of the grooves is preferably about equal to the cross sectional area of the solid part of the shaft. While the flutes or grooves 11 can, if

2,701,738 Batented Feb. 8, 1955 23 I desir'ed;'i extend spirally'alonglh'er shaft; .the; construction is' simpler if theyjare'straight' andparallelto the longitu: dina'l' axis of the shaft;-

The. lower' cylindrica'l cupssh'aped memb'er, Zjh'as, a cylindrical upper skirt portion? 15.. the: upper. edge; of whichis heveled;, as; indicated" -at16',, so that-i it; is dis: posed' 'atan angle to"'th'e'axis.of theshaf t" 1"and'con+. forms to'a conica'lisurfac'e coaxial'with:. the shaft; At the bottom of theskiftportion, an inwardly, projecting annularrfiangeiportion" 1f7i'fdrms a restricted. neckathat iszzinternally; threaded "and of" adiame'ter; to. be screwed onto'the l'ower'end' of"theshaft 1 (Fig.3), Belowthe fl'ang e-17,, there-is a"lower a.nnular. skirt'pprtion 18. that is," internally threaded; a's indicatedi at" 19',.'so;. as. to. be screwed' onto 'aipipe, hose; 01"(01111'61. conduitior supply: ing' liquid"to' the sprinkler head. Iinmediate'lyj below the. inwardly projecting flange .17, ,there is provided an :a'nnular recess 20'"th'at' is adztpted' to' receive a; rubber. washer or gasketffor the purpose of -making afluid tight joint between. the: sleeve member 2" and; the supply; conduit; After'the sleeve'1memb'er'2f'has heen-screwedf onto the. lower. end of the shaffl, itzis preferably held'irrplace. by. a 'set screw or! pin '21..

Intermediate'cup-shaped members 3. and-4 are screwed onto-the shaffl above thelowerimemb'en 2. Eachof the intermediate members. has. a. cylindrical. skirt p.o1=-. tion 23 "havinggitsmpper.edge. beveled; as indicated .at :24;- Ah annularflflange. 25' projects. inwardly fromfithelower. portion-of the skirt-J23. and. is. internally threadedf and; of'a diameter/to. hescrewedfonto the shaft.- 1.. The.

- lower. peripheral "edges- 261' off the: intermediate members are beveledfinith'e 'sam'edirectionasthe upper. edges of the skirtportions. 1 It will'lbe seen..that-.the'skirtpor: tions 23. oft-the. intermediate. m'emb'ersfiiarid 4,. as: well as. thefskirtfport'iono 1 5.. of: the flowers member: 2, are. spaced from" the shaft liso that "therelis' an. annular. space between the shaft'and the respective skii't portions...

The. uppermost.cylindrical-member; 5. is. shaped-like an inverted-. cup. having a: skirt. portion 30. that. is. inter.- nally; threaded-so, asto. screw. on. to' the 'upperjend of the shaft 111 ThecapISSlias an end: wall131Zwhie-hmay, either. be..i1nperforate; or may have. one.or. more..small holes321 'Where.a.pli1ralityofiholesis. used, the;holes are. preferably/divergent upwardly smthatnjetsor. streams. ofjlliquidlis'suing from the -holestdiverge.in a:.predeter.- mined pattern. The. lower. peripheral edge; of; the. skirt 30"is. beveled,as. indicated at 33,-jthe diiection.and;angle of .b'evel'being approximately. equal ;to.,that.of the. upper edge 24 of'the adjacent member '4.

. Thecylindrical. cup-shaped members. 2,, 3, 4i and 5' are iseparate'dlfrom fone..ano.ther. in an axial. direction; so as v.to' leave. annular. spaces. between. successive.- members. By.re'ason .ofthe inclination .or.bevel.'of thefacihgperiph. eral. edges of successive. members,.. the. spaces. between them formjannular nozzles, or passageways, that. are inclinedlto. theaxis. ofi the-shaft... The. upper. edge-of member 3 -and.'facing' .lo.wer edge. of fmemb'en 4 are..dis-, posed ati a...l'esser angle. to, the. axis of' the. shaft than the.,uppe'r..edge:1"6"ofv the.-.memher 2i and .the..facing.lower edge. of member. 3.; Likewise, thempper. edgeoflmems her 4 Jandfacifig, lower; edgeoff member 5. meat a. still smaller, angle relative to .the-

of.'.the.. shaft?! Inclina-. tionof. the. annala'rtpassageways.Between..Successivemema hers thus "varies.progressively... The :externalldiameters; as wellas the'internal"diameters;of"the members 2', 3, 4 and 5 are substantially equal so that the overall configuration of the sprinkler head is cylindrical.

Liquid entering the lower end of the lower member 2 flows upwardly through the longitudinal flutes or grooves 11 in the shaft 1 and fills the annular spaces between the shaft and the upwardly projecting skirt portions of members 2, 3 and 4. The cap 5, screwed onto the upper end of the shaft, forms a closure, or a substantial closure, for the channels formed by the grooves 11 in the shaft, so that the liquid is forced out through the annular spaces or passageways between successive members 2, 3, 4 and 5. As noted above, these passageways are preferably disposed at diflerent angles relative to the axis of the shaft. By turning individual ones of the elements 3, 4 and 5, they can be moved axially along the shaft so as to vary the spaces between successive members. The nature of the spray produced is accordingly varied. For example, if the space between members 2 and 3 is relatively large while the space between members 4 and 5 is closed, or relatively small, a larger proportion of liquid will be thrown out in a flat sheet or spray. Conversely, if the space between members 2 and 3 is reduced or closed and the space between members 4 and S is relatively large, more of the liquid will be projected upwardly at a sharper angle to the axis of the sprinkler head. Likewise, all of the spaces may be made larger or smaller to control the fineness or coarseness of the spray. The threaded bore in the cap member 5 is sufiiciently long to permit the desired range of adjustment. The amount of liquid discharged through any holes 32 that may be provided in the end wall 31 of the cap member 5at a given supply pressure depends on the degree to which the spaces between the members 2, 3, 4 and 5 are opened or closed. Thus, if they are relatively open, less liquid will be forced out through the holes 32.

It will be understood that the number of cylindrical cup-shaped elements that are screwed onto the fluted shaft 1 may be varied as desired, the length of the shaft being varied accordingly. For example, as illustrated in Fig. 4 where corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals as in Figs. 1 to 3, there is a lower member 2, upper member 5 and a single intermediate member 3. Fewer or more members can be screwed onto the shaft, as desired. Thus, a variety of diiferent sizes of sprinkler heads can be assembled from the same basic elements. The threaded fluted shaft is preferably produced in long lengths which are then cut up to the lengths desired for individual sprinkler heads. The bottom members 2 and top members 5 are the same for all sprinkler heads of a series, regardless of the number of elements used, except that the angle of bevel of the edges may be changed. Likewise, all of the intermediate cup-shaped members 3 and 4 are identical with one another except that the angle of bevel may be varied. The manufacture of the sprinkler heads is thus greatly simplified.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown by way of example in the drawings, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to these embodiments but may be modified within the scope of the appended claims. It will also be understood that the terms upper, lower, etc., refer to the position shown in the drawing and that the sprinkler head can be used in any desired position. Likewise, the bevel of the peripheral edges can be toward the inlet, rather than away from the inlet as shown, and the angle of bend may be varied to produce the discharge pattern desired.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A sprinkler head comprising a shaft of uniform diameter threaded uniformly throughout its length, said shaft being fluted throughout its length with a plurality of channels extending longitudinally of the shaft, a lower cylindrical member having an upper circumferential skirt portion, an intermediate neck portion that is internally threaded and screwed on the lower end portion of said shaft and a lower circumferential skirt portion that is internally threaded for connection to a supply conduit, at least one intermediate cup-shaped member having a circumferential skirt portion and an annular inwardly projecting flange portion that is internally threaded and screwed on an intermediate portion of said shaft and an inverted cup-shaped upper member having an end wall overlying the upper end of said shaft and a circumfer ential wall that is internally threaded and screwed on the upper end portion of said shaft, said members being spaced from one another along said shaft.

2. A sprinkler head according to claim 1, in which the facing peripheral edge portions are beveled in the same direction to provide annular discharge passage inclined at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the nozzle.

3. A sprinkler head according to claim 2, in which the angle of one of said passages to said axis is greater than the angle of another of said passages to said axis.

4. A sprinkler head according to claim 1, in which the lower skirt portion of said lower cylindrical member has an annular recess to receive an elastic washer between said neck portion and said lower skirt portion.

5. A sprinkler head according to claim 1, in which there are a plurality of small holes in the end wall of the upper member.

6. A sprinkler head according to claim 1, in which said members are substantially cylindrical and of the same external diameter.

7. A sprinkler head comprising a shaft of uniform diameter threaded uniformly throughout its length, said shaft being fluted throughout its length with deep channels extending longitudinally the full length of the shaft, a plurality of substantially cylindrical independentlyrotatable, cup-shaped members screwed onto said shaft and spaced apart thereon, each of said members having an annular skirt portion surrounding and spaced from said shaft, the edges of said skirt portions being beveled and the facing peripheral edges of the adjacent members being correspondingly beveled, and a cap screwed on one end of the shaft and spaced from the adjacent one of said members.

8. A sprinkler head according to claim 7, in which the cap has a plurality of small holes in the top thereof.

9. A sprinkler head according to claim 7, in which the shaft is substantially cross-shaped in cross section.

10. A sprinkler head comprising a shaft of uniform diameter threaded uniformly throughout its length, said shaft being fluted throughout its length With deep channels extending longitudinally the full length of the shaft and a plurality of internally threaded hollow cylindrical and independently rotatable members screwed onto said shaft and spaced apart from one another, one of said members at one end of the shaft being cup-shaped and forming a cap and one of said members at the opposite end of the shaft having means for connecting it to a fluid supply conduit.

11. A sprinkler head according to claim 10, in which the cross sectional area of said channels is approximately equal to the cross sectional area of the solid portion of said shaft.

12. A sprinkler head according to claim 10, in which said channels are trough-shaped with rounded bottoms atrlid have a depth greater than half the radius of the s aft.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,143,700 Hamill June 22, 1915 1,734,580 Hippenmeyer Nov. 5, 1929 2,255,688 Tavone Sept. 9, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS 7,338 Great Britain May 15, 1915 

